Chapter 46: Long Time No See, Senior Yutong

“Let’s bring them to Sister Jing. Did you make enough? It’s not just Sister Jing over there, you know.” Though Wen Hui felt a little reluctant that desserts which could have been additional servings for herself were being shared, she didn’t mind since the recipients were the senior Divine Armored Warriors who had always looked after her. She was only concerned that what was originally prepared for two people might not be enough.

“Don’t worry, there’s more than enough, even if a few more join us.” Having intentionally made extra from the start, it could serve as snacks for the next few days. But since they planned to visit the senior Divine Armored Warriors tomorrow, it felt awkward to show up empty-handed—bringing some homemade pastries seemed an excellent choice.

“Good, that’s settled. Ugh, I need to go for a walk. I can’t digest just sitting here.” Stroking her uncomfortably full stomach, Wen Hui struggled to her feet and slowly made her way out of the kitchen. A walk after meals, even just a few steps, aids digestion.

A post-meal stroll was indeed a good idea. Zhuang Xiaoyuan also stood and followed her. After wandering for quite a while, they only barely managed to feel a little less full. They then enjoyed a proper soak in the bath before parting ways to their rooms for the night.

The next morning, Zhuang Xiaoyuan got up early, called Wen Hui, and together they headed straight for the Command Center’s training base.

The so-called Command Center training base was indeed a training base, but it was not large, nor did it have many trainees. Officially it was under the Command Center’s jurisdiction, but in reality, it operated quite independently, as it served as the exclusive station for the Divine Armored Warriors.

As officers of the Command Center, there was no strict requirement for centralized training. Most recruits were administrative staff with only basic military training, lacking in combat skills, and no one expected them to fight on the front lines. Only the special combat squads stationed at the city gates underwent periodic group combat drills to maintain their keen fighting instincts.

“So this is the Command Center’s training base?” Zhuang Xiaoyuan stood at the entrance, a box full of homemade pastries in hand. She looked at the specially designated, yet deserted, guard post. The thick dust and peeling paint made it clear the place was practically abandoned.

At this moment, the gates of the training base stood wide open, as if to welcome everyone. Though humanity was more united than ever and the upper echelons were no longer obsessed with intrigue, there were still those who, driven by hardship, resorted to petty theft. Wasn’t it risky to leave the place so unguarded?

As if sensing Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s doubts, Wen Hui didn’t answer but instead flashed a mysterious smile, walked right over with her cake box, and strode inside without hesitation. “Seniors, I’m here!”

“Come in, I’ve been waiting for you since you left home,” Hua Jing’s voice called from inside. From her words, it seemed she had known the moment Zhuang Xiaoyuan and Wen Hui set out.

Entering through the gate, they saw a field much smaller than other training grounds, but though smaller, it was fully equipped with every kind of obstacle and fitness apparatus—small, but complete.

Behind the field stood a row of tidy two-story houses. It appeared the senior Divine Armored Warriors all lived here. Though there were many rooms, only a few showed obvious signs of habitation.

To the left of the field was a green trellis, a simple wooden frame with vines curling around it, offering shade to a resting area below. Someone clearly tended this patch, adding a rare touch of green to the otherwise dull and monotonous base.

Under the trellis, a few Divine Armored Warriors were already gathered at a round table. Besides the three seniors they’d met before, there was another young man, his hair tousled and dressed in riding attire—no doubt another member of the Maple City Guardians.

“Good morning, seniors. These are cakes I made myself—a small token, I hope you’ll enjoy them.” Following Wen Hui under the trellis, Zhuang Xiaoyuan raised her cake box in greeting to the group at the round table.

“We’ve been looking forward to your homemade cakes. Wen Hui was singing your praises in the chatroom all day yesterday,” Hua Jing said with a smile, accepting the box and setting it on the table. She gestured to an empty seat, “Please, have a seat. I can hardly wait to try them.”

“Yutong, come down! There’s cake!” As Zhuang Xiaoyuan sat at Hua Jing’s invitation, Wen Hui set her own cake box down and called up to the rooftop, where someone else apparently was.

At her call, a lithe figure leapt from the rooftop, landing nimbly as though it were no more than a little hop, not a two-story drop.

As she landed, her appearance became clear—a gentle girl with short brown hair, looking quite young. In fact, Zhuang Xiaoyuan knew her: her name was Man Yutong, a senior from the military academy, one year ahead of Xiaoyuan and Wen Hui. Though the two weren’t close, as top students in their respective years, they’d often been called together for various duties, becoming fairly acquainted. Yutong was known for being quiet, a dreamy girl often found gazing at the sky.

“Hello, Senior Yutong, it’s been a while.” As Man Yutong walked over lightly, Zhuang Xiaoyuan stood to greet her. Yutong nodded in reply and took a seat beside the only unfamiliar face, the young man in riding clothes.

“My beautiful lady, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Du Qiying, twenty-two, unmarried, favored by the God of Cavalry. Might I have the honor of a delightful encounter with you?” The young Divine Armored Warrior in riding attire stood up, extended his right hand to Zhuang Xiaoyuan with all the gallantry he could muster, and spoke with a look of heartfelt affection.

“Ugh…” The sudden, almost confessional words from this stranger sent a chill down Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s spine, her hair standing on end in alarm.